Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bones or its characters. All credit goes to their rightful owners.
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Chapter Four

Brennan sat at her desk, her eyes drifting close. She hadn't been sleeping well. It had been two months since she told Booth she needed space, and she was starting to wonder if she could ever work in the field with him again.

They still saw each other and spoke when he visited the lab for an update. She still had weekly lunch with Hannah who's been trying to get her to tell her why she and Booth weren't together as much as they used to. She refused. Simply saying things will work out. Even if she didn't believe it.

She disliked this. Disliked that she couldn't simply close the feelings down and found she blamed Booth for that. Because before him, none of this would bother her. She wouldn't have allowed herself to get so close. She would have fallen back on her habit of running when things became too real. It's what she did. But Booth had inched his way close. He moved in so slow she hadn't realized he was there until he was disabling her alarms, bypassing her defenses.

By the time she'd realized what he'd done, it was too late. She'd already allowed him in, and there was no going back, no running away. And when he'd told her he wanted to give them a go, she couldn't stop her heart from both soaring and sinking with fear. Because she wanted it too, but she was too afraid.

Before him, she never wanted anyone the way she wanted him. So instead of facing those terrifying feelings, the ones that told her becoming reliant on someone other than herself wasn't good. The ones that made her fear needing someone other than herself. The ones that told her she was in love with Booth, and nothing could save her from that, she pushed them away.

Now she spent her night's missing Booth so bad it made her stomach hurt and she resented that. This is why she tried to avoid relationships. They made things complicated and messy. Booth was complicated and messy.

A knock at her door had her jerking awake, looking to the door and found Booth standing there.

"Hey. You okay?"

"Yeah." She cleared her throat. "Just tired. I was just completing my notes and was getting ready to have them sent over." She gathered said notes as she spoke.

"Yeah okay. Listen, Bones." His tone had her looking up at him, surprised to see him closer than she expected. "Parker's birthday party is Saturday."

"Yeah. I remember."

"He mentioned that you said you'd be there. And he's been asking about you. I know you need space, but he's my kid and he wants you there."

"I'll be there." She'd thought about it before. She had already bought him a gift and was considering going. She had promised him after all and she didn't like the idea of breaking a promise to a child. Especially Parker.

"Oh. You will?" He'd thought he'd have to push.

"I made a promise to him, Booth. I wouldn't break a promise to Parker."

There was an awkward pause, something that hadn't been an issue before. She used to be so comfortable around him. Never afraid to say what was on her mind.

"So, how are you?" Booth asked, breaking the silence. It had been a while since they spoke of anything personal, and she wasn't sure she was ready to break the streak.

"I'm fine. I have a date. Sweets thinks it will help me." She spoke matter of fact. No emotions.

"You're seeing Sweets?" He was surprised by that.

"No. Not really. Just dinner and when we talk about cases. It was just something he mentioned." She moved about the room, feeling antsy. She wanted to tell him she didn't want to go on the date. But she wouldn't.

"Well, good luck. On your…date."

"Thanks." Pause. "Anyway, here are the notes. I need to go." Without another word, she pushed passed him, ignoring the flutters in her stomach when her arm pressed against his. How ridiculous.


"She's good with him," Hannah said as they cleaned up from the party.

"Yeah, he adores. He's known her since he was four, though." He tacked on. Parker likes Hannah, but they seemed to clash quite a bit. Or more like Parker seemed to pull back and had no problems making it clear that he liked Bones more. The way they both were currently leaning over the coffee table, doing the homework Parker convinced Bones to help him with, looking as if they were thick as thieves probably didn't sit well with Hannah who tried so hard to please the kid. "Give him time. He will feel the same way about you, too."

She nodded, though she didn't seem to believe him. "Temperance seems happier today. Maybe it was good for her to have a couple of hours of careless fun. I know I needed it. I love the way children think. It's like seeing the world through different lenses."

Booth looked at her and had to disagree. The smile was fake. Her laugh wasn't real either. It was that fake laugh she did when she didn't get a joke or when she was forced to associate with donators at the events she hated. The only time he'd seen a genuine smile is when Parker freaked over the Disney Land tickets she'd gotten him, along with hotel fair and a few gift cards.

He should have realized that's what she got him. They'd discussed it once a couple of days after they'd returned from their seven-month detour from their lives. The one where he came home with Hannah and she's come home with no one.

"Yeah, she seems a little more at ease." Especially now he noted. She was in her element helping Parker, and Parker had always liked when she helped him. Surprisingly, he understood when she spoke. Booth wouldn't have thought Bones would be good at teaching a kid. But she was. At least his kid.

He shouldn't like the way they looked together. Shouldn't feel that pull at his heart because two people he loved at the very least liked each other.

Hannah hopped up on the table, wrapping herself around him. "Hmmm. It's been a long day."

Booth allowed her to pull him in, pressing his forehead to hers. "Kids have a way of wearing you out." He placed a quick kiss on her lips. "I love you."

"I love you." She singsongs the words and then laughed before kissing him again.

"Oh gross." Parker's words made them pull apart.

"Right?" Bones said, wrinkling her nose right along with him. "Grownups." She rolled her eyes and laughed with Parker who obviously realized she was teasing.

"Don't act like you haven't kissed anyone, Temperance. Speaking of kissing, how did that date go?"

He had no right to feel jealous. No. Nope. And yet, he felt that twinge at the mention of Bones dating someone. It just didn't sit right. "Yeah, how'd that go?" He asked as Parker left the room to put his homework away.

"Good. His name is Branden. He's an architect. We had dinner. He brought me home."

"And?" Hannah prompted, leaning on as of Bones was going to give a juicy answer.

Booth didn't miss the way Bones looked at him for just a moment. Before replying. "Nothing. He brought me home, walked me to my door, kissed me goodnight." She shrugged like it was nothing.

"So…are you going to see him again?"

"Yeah. We have plans to get breakfast tomorrow."

"Do you like him? I mean, is he cute? What do you have in common?"

Booth laughed. "What's with the interrogation?"

Hannah laughed too. "What? I'm excited for her. I really like the idea of you being happy, Temperance. That's all."

"Branden is very nice. Yes, he's attractive. I'm not sure how much we have in common, but he makes me laugh and provides stimulating conversation."

"You're dating someone?" Parker asked from his bedroom door.

"Sort of." Bones replied.

"But what about dad?" His eyes were wide, and his bottom lip seems to tremble a little.

"Buddy, I'm with Hannah." He stood going to Parker, but Parker backed away some. "Parker."

Parker moved past his dad toward Bones. "Please don't not be in love with my dad. You guys are supposed to be together! I want you to be my stepmom. Not her."

"Parker!" Booth said, not wanting him to hurt Hannah's feelings. He wasn't sure what to say beyond that. He realized that Parker was a fan of Bones, but he'd thought Parker had warmed up to Hannah enough to accept things as they were.

"No! Please, Bones. Don't give up on dad. He loves you! I love you! We were supposed to be a family!"

Hannah stood, going back to the cleaning. She was clearly hurt by this outburst. "Parker, you are being extremely rude. I'm going to marry Hannah. I love Hannah."

"I don't want you to!" Parker ran to his room, slamming the door closed.

Booth looked between Bones and Hannah, feeling uncertain about what to say. "Hannah, he just needs time." He decided on going to her.

"I know. It's okay. I'm okay. We will get there."

"He's just used to me." Bones put in. She gave Hannah an uncomfortable kind of smile. "Do you mind if I go talk to him?"

"Yeah. Go ahead." Booth replied, keeping his focus on Hannah.


"It's fine, Seeley. Really. I'm not mad," Brennan heard Hannah say as she walked into Parker's room after he okayed her entrance.

He was laying on his bed, feet hanging off one end, head off the other. He was crying and for a moment, she worried this was a bad idea. She wasn't always sure what to say to children. Though she always managed well enough with Parker.

"Can I sit," she asked moving toward the bed. Parker sat up and nodded. "You were pretty angry out there."

"I don't want dad to marry Hannah. I want him to marry you."

"I'm flattered. But, you're dad and I, we aren't going to get married."

"Why? Don't you love him?"

"I do. But, not that way. And he doesn't love me that way either. And regardless of all that, I'm not planning on ever getting married."

"Why?"

"Because it's an antiquated ritual and I have no interest in taking part in it."

"Would you be with him if he didn't want to get married?" Parker looked hopeful.

She shook her head. "It's more complicated than that. We do love each other, but not the being together kind of way. And your dad loves Hannah. A lot. So you should really try to like her too. She's a good person. She just wants to be your friend."

"Do you like her?"

Brennan nodded. "I do. And I think she's perfect for your dad."

"I don't hate her. I just don't like her as much as you." He picked at a loose thread on his quilt. "I don't like that you don't come around as often. I think it's because of her."

Brennan had to give him points for his observation skills. "No, it has nothing to do with Hannah. I've just been really busy."

"So, you can try to come around more? Or maybe we can go to your house and swim?"

"How about this? If you promise to make an effort to like Hannah, I will promise to try and come around more."

Parker perked up, though she wasn't sure if it was a genuine emotion "Yeah okay, I'll try.


"Hey, sorry I'm late!" Brennan hurried in and sat down. She was supposed to have breakfast with Branden, but he had some kind of work emergency and had to reschedule for dinner. So she decided to meet up with Angela instead.

"You okay? Look a little frazzled there."

"Yeah. I just couldn't find my grey scarf. That light one that you got for me on my birthday?"

"Yeah, I remember. It's odd for you to misplace something."

"Yeah." She thought about it for a moment, but her mind shifted to Angela. "So, I have a venue for your baby shower and I just need you to okay the menu."

"I really appreciate you doing that for me, Sweetie. It's really kind." Angela smiled at her.

"I don't mind. I find I'm excited for you. I want to help you celebrate."

Angela took her hand. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Sooo, tell me about the architect."

Brennan blushed a little. "There's not a lot to say. He's very attractive, and so far he's held my interest. He likes to leave me goodnight texts and good morning texts."

"Oh, that's sweet."

"Yeah. It is." She didn't mention that she liked it more when Booth send her a goodnight text. Which he does nightly. He'd started doing it years ago, and still does it now. Though now she doesn't reply. But she wanted to. It just felt too personal now.

"I miss Booth." The words flew out of her mouth and hung between them for a moment.

"He's still here, Brennan. All you have to do is reach out to him."

"I know. I hate this. I'm not good with emotions. But I was at Booths for Parker's birthday and I felt…" she let out a sigh. "I don't know what I felt, but I miss him. I miss us."

"So what's stopping you from reaching out? Going out in the field with him? He misses you too. Trust me on that."

"What if too much has changed? What if we can never get back what we had? And what if Hannah decides we are too close? I don't want to get in their way."

"I think you're overthinking this. You and Booth were you and Booth before they got engaged and it didn't seem to be an issue. Why would it be one now?"

"I hate psychology."

Angela laughed. "Yeah, sweetie. I know."

Brennan let out a sigh. "When did my life become so complicated?"

"When you teamed up with this hot FBI agent who looks at you like you're his whole world?"

Brennan laughed and rolled her eyes. "He doesn't look at me like that."

"My answer still stands," Angela said out loud. And he most certainly does. Even now. But she'd keep that to herself.
…..

"Female. Late twenties." Brennan got closer to the teeth. "Hodgins, there's something stuck between the first and second molar, top left. Broken hyoid." She moved her way down the bones. "Broke ribs."

"These marks on the wrist and ankles suggest bondage," Daisy said. "This woman struggled."

"Yes. It would seem so."

"I put time off death about three weeks ago." Hodgins put in. "These babies might have more evidence in them."

"How about an ID?" Booth asked.

"Well, she's about Brennan's height and weight. Angela has already started on facial reconstruction." Cam replied.

"Correction, I've finished and I've got a hit." Angela went to the computer, pulling up their victim. "Meet Lyra Harris. She's a hairstylist. Was reported missing by her boss three weeks ago."

"That's consistent with time of death," Brennan said, looking back at the bones, but looking back up when the silence told her something was wrong. "Why did we stop working?"

"Sweetie, this woman, she looks a lot like you."

Brennan looked at the woman a moment. "A little. But it's hardly relevant."

"Bones is right. Just because she's similar, doesn't mean anything." Booth looked at Brennan for a moment before turning to Angela. "Does she have a family?"

"Yeah. But given the hour, you might want to wait until morning."

"She has a point. It's late and there isn't much to be done at this hour. Everyone go home, and be back early." Cam took off her gloves, squeezing Booth's arm as she walked passed him.

Brennan bent back over the body. She would work a little longer before going home.


Brennan yawned as she poured herself some juice. It had been a long day. They had closed one case, only to open another the same day. She would take a bath, and get to sleep. She planned on being back in the lab early.

She turned, reaching for her phone. 'Goodnight' Booth's nightly text read on her screen. She smiled at it. She'd told him before parting ways that she wanted to go out in the field with him on this case. She couldn't help but smile when his smile spread on his face.

"Yeah? Really?" He'd asked, his voice husky with excitement.

"Yeah, really," she'd replied, smiling herself.

She was looking forward to it. It wasn't that her hurt had been forgotten. Nor was she over Booth. It was more that she didn't think she'd ever be over Booth and she was trying to reconcile their friendship before that too was destroyed. She'd lost him as a romantic prospect. Losing him as a friend was not an option. She hated it, but she needed him.

A wave of vertigo hit her out of nowhere, causing her to sway. She reached out, trying to grab the counter to stop herself from falling. Nausea hit next, making her stomach roll.

She looked to the left when she'd heard footsteps. "Who's there?" She asked, unable to focus enough to make out the face.

Whoever it was, they said nothing. Remembering the phone in her hand, she fumbled with it, hoping to call for help but the man, at least she thinks it was a man, knocked the phone from her hand.

Instinct kicked in and she ran from him. Kind of. She'd knocked into the lamp on her side table, and trying to avoid the debris, she shifted, tripping over the clothes basket she'd left there that morning. Still, she scrambled away, grabbing whatever her hand fell on and throwing it in the direction of her attacker.

He dodged it, then grabbed her ankle, yanking her toward him. She kicked out, or she thinks she did. Her limbs felt as if they didn't belong to her. She flailed her arms and cried out when something cut into her forearm.

"Now look what you did," a jarring familiar voice said. "Now we have to worry about infection."

That voice? She knew it. But she couldn't place it through the haze and she felt as if whoever voice it was, it didn't belong to someone who would hurt her. But who? Who was it? She screamed as her body went completely still, no longer able to control it. She felt herself being hauled up.

She smelt cigarettes and rum as well as aftershave and harsh body spray. The combination burned her nose.

She couldn't move, but she could still see and he was heading for the door. "Booth! Booth help!" She cried out, fear overriding logic. "Booth." His name came out mumbled. "Booth." She mouthed before losing consciousness. Her last thought being this man must have been the one to take her keys.
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I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Reviews and comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks :D